Around the Tubes: 9/14/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Into The Dark, Discover and OWN on Hulu, John Mellencamp, Sir Rod Stewart, A Murder in Mansfield, The Circus, Los Comandos, and Towards the North.

- In partnership with Blumhouse Television, Into The Dark is a horror event series from prolific, award-winning producer, Jason Blum’s independent TV studio. The series includes 12 super-sized episodes, with a new installment released each month inspired by a holiday and will feature Blumhouse’s signature genre/thriller spin on the story.


- Discovery Inc. and Hulu today announced an expansive distribution agreement that will extend Discovery’s portfolio of high quality real life entertainment brands to Hulu’s on-demand and live TV subscription streaming services. The new partnership makes Hulu the #1 streaming home for popular unscripted series and reinforces Hulu’s commitment to offering programming the whole family can enjoy. Today’s multi-year agreement increases Hulu’s offering of top Discovery programming to nearly 4,000 episodes of popular shows including Deadliest Catch, MythBusters, Say Yes to the Dress, Naked and Afraid, Property Brothers, Gold Rush, Street Outlaws, Chopped, Chopped Jr., Fixer Upper, House Hunters and House Hunters International, available outside of Discovery’s networks exclusively to Hulu across all of its subscription plans.

- Concurrent with the Discovery partnership, Hulu reached a licensing agreement with OWN – which is part of the Discovery Networks family – to bring four of the network’s top-rated scripted series exclusively to Hulu. All past episodes of Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots, If Loving You is Wrong, The Paynes and Love Thy Neighbor are now available to stream for the first time, only on Hulu. They join the complete library of acclaimed OWN series Queen Sugar from Ava DuVernay and Warner Horizon.

- Set to coincide with a highly anticipated new album release, John Mellencamp will embark on a 2019 tour of “The John Mellencamp Show” which will feature the rock icon’s classics plus some new material. Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of music’s most authentic and crowd pleasing concert performers, Mellencamp will begin the tour February 7th in his home state of Indiana at South Bend’s Morris Performing Arts Center and will span two months ending in Clearwater, Florida at the famed Ruth Eckerd Hall. Produced by AEG Presents, “The John Mellencamp Show” will start promptly at 8pm and will not have an opening act. Every ticket purchased online will receive a physical copy of Mellencamp’s forthcoming album “Other People’s Stuff” set for release on November 16th by Republic Records. Tickets for the tour will be available to the general public beginning Friday, September 21st at 10:00am local time. Pre-sale and VIP tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, September 19th at 10:00am local time. For more information and all ticketing information please visit Mellencamp.com.

- Music legend Sir Rod Stewart scored his 23rd Top 10 hit on the AC chart this week with his latest single “Didn’t I.” The song soared into the Top 10 just five weeks into its release, quickly becoming a radio favorite and standout live performance on Stewart’s sold-out summer tour. The song is from his upcoming 30th studio album Blood Red Roses, which is due out September 28th via Republic Records.

- Two-time Oscar®-winning director Barbara Kopple has partnered with America’s leading true-crime network, Investigation Discovery (ID) to explore the legacy of the notorious 1989 murder of Noreen Boyle in Mansfield, Ohio in the new documentary, A Murder in Mansfield. The film chronicles Noreen’s son Collier’s journey for answers and peace in the aftermath of his mother’s death nearly three decades ago. A Murder in Mansfield will have its national television debut exclusively on Investigation Discovery on November 17, 2018 at 9:00.

- Showtime announced that prominent political strategist and commentator Steve Schmidt will join the network’s heralded weekly political docuseries The Circus as a recurring on-air contributor when the show returns on Sunday, September 16 at 8:00. Schmidt has made previous appearances on The Circus, offering trenchant insight based on his more than two decades working at the highest levels of national Republican politics. In the show’s fall run, Schmidt will join hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner and Mark McKinnon as they crisscross the country covering the most high-stakes midterm elections in modern history — with titanic implications for the presidency of Donald Trump.

- On World Refugee Day, public television’s WORLD Channel announced the lineup of films for season 3 of Doc World, a series that showcases stories that dive deep into the heart of international issues, giving viewers a chance to understand the lives and concerns of people beyond U.S. borders. The series continues this weekend, with two new films debuting this Sunday, September 16,: Los Comandos and Towards the North, following refugees in Latin America fleeing their homes in search of asylum.

Around the Tubes: 9/7/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Shatterbox, Madison Ryann, Dark Money, 93Queen, and World Refugee Day.

- Turner's TNT, in partnership with Refinery29, today announced the World Premiere and digital release date of season two of the Shatterbox, the film series that gives female storytellers a platform to create short films that redefine identity, imagination and storytelling through the female lens. The latest collection debuts Saturday, September 8, across TNT’s digital ecosystem, including its TVE apps available for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Xbox One, Smart TVs, its website (TNTDrama.com/Shatterbox), and social platforms including YouTube and Facebook. To celebrate the launch, the films will also have an exclusive screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and have a presence at Refinery29’s iconic experiential event, 29Rooms New York, which takes place September 6-9 and September 13-16.

- rising vocalist and songwriter Madison Ryann Ward shares the video for her debut single “Mirror”—watch and share HERE. Refinery29 praises the video saying, “The powerful visuals of the music video match Ward's soulful, smooth vocals.” “Mirror” was released earlier this spring after Ward was featured recording the track with producer Rick Rubin in his Malibu studio on Jay-Z’s episode of the hit Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. When Letterman asks Ward about her objective in making music, she replies, “Just to be honest. And to move people in a way that they’ve never been moved before.”

- Your vote can be bought, but at what cost? Dark Money follows local Montana journalist John S. Adams, who is determined to uncover the truth about funding in his state’s elections. The film gains insights over the course of three election cycles, as it solves an increasingly complicated and blurred puzzle. Dark Money traces Adams’ steps and sheds light on the grassroots movement to unveil the mysterious financing behind our elections. Dark Money has its national broadcast and streaming debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, October 1 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 31st season.

- When Rachel “Ruchie” Freier introduces us to Borough Park, Brooklyn, one of the world’s largest enclaves of Hasidic Jews, she acknowledges the community’s prevailing view of a woman’s role: “The focus of a woman is being a mother. Any profession, or extra schooling, is discouraged.” In Paula Eiselt’s debut feature documentary, 93Queen, America’s first all-female EMT corps is born against this unlikely backdrop. 93Queen, directed by Paula Eiselt and produced by Eiselt and Heidi Reinberg, makes its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, September 17 at 10:00.

- On World Refugee Day, public television’s WORLD Channel announced the lineup of films for season 3 of Doc World, a series that showcases stories that dive deep into the heart of international issues, giving viewers a chance to understand the lives and concerns of people beyond U.S. borders. The first three films of the season, kicking off Sunday, September 9, entitled: Sky and Ground, Los Comandos, and Towards the North, all follow refugees fleeing their homes in search of asylum.

Around the Tubes: 8/31/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Showtime, The First, Ray Donovan, Bob Marley, James Bay, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande, America From Scratch, and Turner movies.

- Showtime will be available to more than 71 million households during a Free Preview Weekend from Friday August 31 through Monday, September 3. Viewers nationwide will be able to sample the network’s award-winning programming on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and select distributors' TV Everywhere portals. The Free Preview weekend will include early sampling of the series premiere of the new half-hour comedy Kidding, starring Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey in his first series regular role in more than two decades. Showtime will also air full-season marathons of Shameless ahead of the season nine premiere on Sunday, September 9 at 9:00 The fourth, fifth and sixth seasons of Shameless will air on back-to-back days starting on Saturday, September 1 through Monday, September 3.

- Check out the official trailer for upcoming Hulu Original drama series The First. All eight episodes of The First debut on Friday, Sept. 14, only on Hulu.


- Showtime has released the season six poster and new behind-the-scenes video for its hit drama series Ray Donovan, which premieres on Sunday, October 28 at 9:00. Ray Donovan stars multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Liev Schreiber, with Oscar® winner and multiple Emmy-nominated actress Susan Sarandon and Jon Voight in his Golden Globe winning role.


- On August 24, The Marley Family, Island Records, and UMe will collectively proclaim the sun is shining in celebration of 40 years of Kaya, Bob Marley & The Wailers' historic March 1978 release. This most special anniversary edition will feature Stephen "Ragga" Marley's exciting and vibrant new "Kaya 40" mixes of all ten tracks from the original album alongside its original mixes in 2CD and 180-gram 2LP configurations. (The digital version will be a standalone release of Stephen's mixes only.) The album will also be available as a limited edition 180-gram 2LP green vinyl version exclusively at BobMarley.com

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer-songwriter James Bay shares an acoustic version of his latest single “Just For Tonight” (Acoustic) today. Check out “Just for Tonight” (Acoustic) HERE via Republic Records.

- Tune in Friday, August 31 at 9:00 pm ET/PT to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Imagine Dragons” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. The multi-platinum, GRAMMY® Award-winning band Imagine Dragons will bring their passionately inventive alt-rock sound to a special, one-hour concert this Friday night on AT&T AUDIENCE Network. Watch the trailer for “Imagine Dragons” on AT&T AUDIENCE Network HERE.

- Multiplatinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Sweetener. In addition, Sweetener broke the record for largest streaming week for a pop album by a female artist. This is ARIANA’s third album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Get Sweetener HERE.

- Americans everywhere are asking tough questions about the foundation of our democracy and how we think about politics at this crucial time in our democracy. America From Scratch produced by Rewire for PBS Studios as part of the Twin Cities PBS initiative “In It Together” is taking everyone back to the basics and giving the public a much-needed refresher on civics while asking viewers: If we were to build America from scratch today, what would it look like? Breaking down key ideas related to social sciences, civics and current events, the 11-episode series America From Scratch explores the biases and frustrations in our current system and aims to encourage creative thinking about how we structure our public life and how we define the common good. Actor, musician and writer Toussiant Morrison hosts the series, propelling the action forward with the force of his curiosity in exploring provocative questions such as: Should your data have rights? Should we have a president? What if there were no states? Should we elect our Supreme Court Justices? Should we rewrite our Constitution? America From Scratch sources expert insight from around the world and seeks input and commentary from ordinary viewers across the country. The most recent installment of the series, Should Voting Be Mandatory?, comes just in time for primary season as various states prepare to go to the polls. Watch that particular video here:

- What's streaming in September on tntdrama.com, the TNT App, tbs.com and the TBS App: Catch Maleficent, Alice Through the Looking Glass and more fairytale movies, streaming now on TBS.Don't miss The Dark Knight Rises and Blackhat, this month on TNT.

Around the Tubes: 8/24/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Last Ship, Ariana Grande, The Spencer Lee Band, Rose Villain, Air Disasters, Naked With Niecy Nash, Our Cartoon President, and Too $hort.

- TNT is revealing The Last Ship's new, action-packed long-form trailer. The Last Ship will complete its mission when the show returns for its fifth and final season on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 9 p.m.


- Grammy Award®-nominated, multiplatinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande releases the highly anticipated fourth studio album, Sweetener, via Republic Records. The album debuted at #1 in over 90 countries on the iTunes Album Chart. Sweetener includes three previously released tracks, “No Tears Left To Cry” now officially certified RIAA PLATINUM, “The Light Is Coming”, and current second single “God Is A Woman”. Get Sweetener HERE.

- The Spencer Lee Band releases their self-titled debut EP, The Spencer Lee Band [School Boy Records/The Brain Music/Republic Records]. Check out the lyric video for “River Water” HERE and The Spencer Lee Band EP HERE.

- Rising pop antihero Rose Villain reveals the vertical video for her new single, “Funeral Party,” via Republic Records—watch here. The track is produced by SIXPM and is Villain’s first release with Republic. Of the song, Villain says, “It’s a song about the definitive end of a relationship, where he acted like a total jerk, and she moved on with a bang.”

- A 747 explodes in the skies above New York. An Indonesian airliner crashes in the jungle with no survivors. A Taiwanese commuter aircraft clips a highway on takeoff and plunges into a river. In the aftermath of the world’s deadliest airplane tragedies, the world is often left to wonder: What happened? Smithsonian Channel's long-running series AIR DISASTERS returns with a new season to uncover the truth behind what went wrong and how to prevent these fatal crashes in the future. The 11th season of Air Disasters premieres Sunday, September 30 at 8:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- It’s time to slay in a whole new way. Turner’s TNT has ordered a pilot for Naked With Niecy Nash, a decidedly unique show with a late-night feel hosted and executive produced by the queen of Claws and author of the best-selling book It’s Hard to Fight Naked, the inimitable Niecy Nash. Nash, never afraid to get real and tell it like it is, will serve up a tall glass of humor, advice, and one-of-a-kind “Niecy-isms” on all things love, sex, romance and relationships with everyday people. The pilot will tap Niecy’s unparalleled strengths to inspire, empower and make viewers laugh out loud. Nothing is off limits and no topic will be out-of-reach.

- With one of the most consequential midterm elections of our time looming, the Showtime animated series Our Cartoon President takes a look at the political field in a special one-hour episode that involves Cartoon President Trump, his closest advisors, leaders of the Democratic party, a Russian president and an unforgettable hot air balloon ride. Premiering Sunday, November 4 at 10:30 on Showtime, Our Cartoon President: Election Special 2018 focuses on Cartoon Trump’s deepening concerns about what he fears is a coming Democratic blue wave and the threat of impeachment.

- “Hey dad, can you play that new Too $hort?” a seemingly upper class-born girl asks as she hops into the car with her family. Directed by Embryo, the hilarious new music video for Too $hort’s star-studded “Ain’t My Girlfriend (feat. French Montana, Ty Dolla $ign, Joyner Lucas and Jeremih)” track features a formally-dressed family driving through their neighborhood in a minivan, having the time of their life singing along to the raunchy and explicit lyrics. The creative visual features a comical cameo from the Bay Area legend and makes for a fitting introduction to his forthcoming studio album The Pimp Tape [Dangerous Music/EMPIRE]- available everywhere November 9. Pre-order the album HERE.

- Showtime has announced that Emmy nominee Kari Skogland (The Handmaid’s Tale) will direct the first two episodes of the network’s eight-episode limited series about Fox News founder Roger Ailes, based upon the extensive reporting of Gabriel Sherman in his bestselling book, The Loudest Voice in the Room, and starring Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) in the title role.

- Lt. Governor Dan Patrick put out a tweet saying he is agreeing to debate Fox News personality, Geraldo Rivera, who is not a candidate for any public office in Texas, nor anywhere else in the United States. This comes as Patrick continually refuses to debate his actual opponent, Democratic Lt. Governor Nominee, Mike Collier.

- Following Micheal Cohen's guilty plea and Paul Manafort's guilty sentencing, BetDSI.com has cut odds on the possibility of the House impeaching President Donald Trump. As the odds currently stand, Trump is a slight underdog to be impeached during his first term, but he's an overwhelming favorite to be impeached before the end of his projected Presidential tenure. A bettor would have to risk $500 just to win $100 if he believes Trump will be impeached before 2021.

Donald Trump is impeached by the House during first term

Yes +100
No -130

Donald Trump is impeached by the House before Nov. 3, 2020

Yes -500
No +350

Around the Tubes: 8/17/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on JEOPARDY!, Toto, Greta Van Fleet, Joseph Angel, Secrets, SafeWord, The Alienist, America Says, Scream, and Hulu Fall Premiere Dates.

- After 35 years in syndication, JEOPARDY! - the most honored quiz show in television history – makes its streaming debut now on Hulu. To celebrate the premiere, Hulu has curated 60 episodes of some of JEOPARDY!’s flagship special events, including a TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, a COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP, a KIDS WEEK, as well as some of the show’s fan-favorite contestants throughout its history.


- Toto have released their personal interpretation of Weezer’s “Hash Pipe”. The smoking rendition of the song is a direct response to the run-away success being witnessed globally for Weezer’s covers of the hits “Africa” and “Rosanna.” Toto’s rendition is available HERE. Toto is currently touring North America in support of the band’s recent release 40 Trips Around The Sun. For more details keep an eye on totoofficial.com.

- With the band’s new single “When The Curtain Falls" already Top 10 at Rock Radio and nearly eight-million streams to its credit, Greta Van Fleet presents the companion music video, a performance piece that finds the band in an esoteric foreign landscape filled with mystical symbolism, celestial events and otherworldly psychedelia. Filmed in Southern California and conceived and directed by acclaimed visual effects artist Benjamin Kutsko (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Iron Man”), you can check out the video here!

- Rising artist and multiplatinum songwriter Joseph Angel shares his debut single “Shame” via Republic Records—listen here. “Shame” is the debut song from the vocalist, songwriter and producer, who is known for penning Rihanna’s triple-platinum smash “Love On The Brain” from ANTI, among many other chart-topping hits.

- Archaeologists investigating a site in Iraq destroyed by ISIS have discovered a 2,700-year-old temple that reveals new insights into one of the Bible’s most famous stories, “Jonah and the Whale.” That’s just one of the revelations explored in the new season of Smithsonian Channel’s popular series Secrets, which follows the world’s leading archaeologists as they use modern technologies to solve some of history’s oldest riddles. A mysterious tomb from the final days of the Vikings, a forgotten princess of Egypt and the true origin of King Solomon’s mines are among other startling finds revealed in season five of Secrets, which premieres Monday, September 24 at 8:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- MTV’s highly anticipated series SafeWord, returns for a second season on Friday, August 24th at 11PM ET/PT with celebrity captains Michael B. Jordan and Steelo Brim, with cameos by Tiffany Haddish and Issa Rae. On MTV’s “SafeWord,” stakes are high when a pair of close celebrity friends act as “captains” of their respective “teams” and go head-to-head in hilarious games and social media challenges that push them out of their comfort zone.

- TNT has ordered The Angel of Darkness, a new limited series based on the sequel to best-selling author Caleb Carr’s The Alienist. A huge critical and ratings success, The Alienist is 2018’s #1 new cable series in 18-49, having reached more than 50 million people across multiple platforms. It also earned six Emmy® Award nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series. The Alienist’s lead cast including Daniel Brühl (Rush), Luke Evans (The Girl on the Train) and Dakota Fanning (American Pastoral) will return for The Angel of Darkness in an all-new storyline.

- Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, announced today its original hit series America Says, hosted by John Michael Higgins, will return for a 95-episode second season. The announcement comes on the heels of a successful premiere season, which has seen the show build over its lead-in by +26%, while also performing over +40% above YTD time period average among our core W25-54 demo.

- MTV, together with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment, today announced that Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee, Grammy Award®-winning artist and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige, will appear in MTV’s Scream later this year. She joins the previously announced all-star cast including Keke Palmer, Tyler Posey, Tyga, Giorgia Whigham, Jessica Sula, RJ Cyler, C.J. Wallace and Giullian Yao Gioiello. The news comes as the network just closed four consecutive quarters of YoY prime ratings growth – its best streak in seven years- and ranks as the fastest growing network in prime among Top 40 networks across all of television.

- Hulu's Fall 2018 Programming Slate Premiere Dates (click links for trailers):
Minding the Gap (documentary): August 17
Crime + Punishment (documentary): August 24
Safe Harbour (Season 1): All Episodes, August 24
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman (New Episodes): September 6
The First (Season 1): All Episodes, September 14
Into the Dark (Year-round Event Series): The Body: October 5; Flesh and Blood: November 2
Light as a Feather (Season 1): All Episodes, October 12
Marvel's Runaways (Season 2): All Episodes, December 21

Around the Tubes: 8/10/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Safe Harbour, The Circus, Crime + Punishment, Wyeth, The Fog, and Showtime TCA news.

- Hulu has boarded the critically acclaimed Australian series Safe Harbour for its U.S. debut as a Hulu Original Series. In a deal with NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution, the four-part event drama is the latest internationally-produced series to join Hulu’s growing slate of thought-provoking original series, and will make its debut on August 24th. Safe Harbour will stream on Hulu alongside a growing list of successful international co-productions including the Peabody Award-winning National Treasure, as well as its relevant, provocative original dramas like the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale and Emmy-nominated The Looming Tower. Since co-producing and launching series such as Hard Sun and Harlots, consumption of high-caliber international dramas on Hulu has tripled over the past year alone.

- As the country readies for one of the most consequential midterm elections in recent history, the third season of the groundbreaking political documentary series The Circus returns with nine new episodes starting on Sunday, September 16 at 8:00 on Showtime. Hosted by John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Alex Wagner, The Circus launched the first part of its third season this past spring recording the series’ biggest premiere week ever, growing 10 percent in its second week and delivering a series high of 1.3 million viewers, topping its election week total in 2016. This fall, The Circus returns to its roots. The show will hit the campaign trail for the midterm elections, which will not only determine control of Congress but how the Trump presidency will play out. The series will continue to cover the impact of the administration’s policies as well as the legal and political controversies swirling around the White House. The Circus will follow multiple individual stories and key characters from the campaigns, and capture their unique perspectives in weekly half-hour shows. With intimate, behind-the-scenes access, cameras will offer viewers a look at what the public rarely sees and explore the high human drama of American politics.

- Crime + Punishment, premiering August 24 on Hulu, examines the United States' most powerful police department through the efforts of a group of active duty officers and a private investigator who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices which have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades. Amidst a landmark class action lawsuit over illegal policing quotas, director Stephen Maing chronicles the real lives and struggles of a group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and the young minorities they are pressured to arrest and summons.


- Wyeth tells the story of one of America’s most popular, but least understood, artists – Andrew Wyeth. Son of the famous illustrator N.C. Wyeth, Andrew had his first exhibition at age 20, and his painting “Christina’s World” was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948. While Wyeth’s exhibitions routinely broke attendance records, art world critics continually assaulted his work. Detailing the stunning drawings and powerful portraits he created in Chadds Ford, Pa. and on the coast of Cushing, Maine, Wyeth explores his inspirations, including neighbor Christina Olsen and his hidden muse, the German model Helga Testorf, who he painted secretly for 15 years. Through unprecedented access to Wyeth’s family members, including sons Jamie and Nicholas Wyeth, and never-before-seen archival materials from the family’s personal collection and hundreds of Wyeth’s studies, drawings and paintings, American Masters presents the most complete portrait of the artist yet — bearing witness to a legacy just at the moment it is evolving. Directed by Glenn Holsten, the film will be available on Digital HD on September 8 and on DVD September 11 via PBS Distribution. Premieres Friday, September 7 at 10:00PM on PBS (check local listings).

- New York based Rialto Pictures will release John Carpenter’s landmark horror movie The Fog on October 26, in its first-ever major restoration. The horror classic, in a full 4K restoration from Studiocanal, opens October 26 for limited runs at the Metrograph, in New York, Landmark’s Nuart in Los Angeles, and The Music Box Theatre in Chicago. Additional screenings will occur during the week of Halloween throughout the Alamo Drafthouse circuit and other specialty theaters.

- Some Showtime quick hits from TCA's

First Kidding Trailer:
Season 9 of Shameless will have 14 episodes starting September 9.
Ray Donovan returns October 28 at 9:00.
New limited series Escape at Dannemora premieres November 18 at 10:00
LeBron James documentary Shut Up and Dribble premieres in October
Four part series Enemies: The President, Justice and The FBI premieres November 18
The eighth and final season of Homeland to premiere in June

Around the Tubes: 8/3/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Last Ship, Showtime, U2, Fall Out Boy, Noah Kahan, Ella Fitzgerald,JP Cooper, Sophie Sanders, A Murder in Mansfield and Queen Fur.

- TNT's epic drama The Last Ship will complete its final mission when the show returns for its fifth and final season on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy), Bridget Regan (Agent Carter) and Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) star in this action-packed series chronicling the aftermath of a global catastrophe that nearly decimated the world's population.


- SHOWTIME is offering first-time customers of the SHOWTIME streaming service the opportunity to sign up at an introductory price of $4.99 per month for the first three months of their subscription, starting today through September 3. New customers who subscribe on Showtime.com or through the SHOWTIME app on Android, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Samsung Smart TVs or Xbox One or download from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV will pay the initial promotional price for three months and then roll to $10.99 per month. A seven-day free trial is also available on most platforms.

- Island Records, Interscope and UMC announced the vinyl reissue of The Best of 1990-2000 from U2, remastered and pressed on 180g double LP black vinyl and available on September 28th. The release will follow that of Achtung Baby (1991), Zooropa (1993) and The Best of 1980-1990 (1998) – all also remastered and pressed on 180g double LP black vinyl – out now.

- Following their electrifying early morning performance of their hits “The Last of The Real Ones,” “Uma Thurman” and “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” in NYC’s Central Park for Good Morning America’s “Summer Concert Series” today (watch the full set here, including online exclusives “Champion” and “Centuries”), multiplatinum modern alt-rock pioneers Fall Out Boy have announced they will release all seven of their studio albums on vinyl as a lavish box set titled The Complete Studio Albums on September 28 via Island/DCD2/UMe. Spanning the band’s storied and wildly successful 15-years-and-counting recording career, the comprehensive collection contains all of Fall Out Boy’s best-selling studio albums, starting with the band’s 2003 pop-punk debut, Take This To Your Grave, including 2005’s career-defining double-platinum hit platter, From Under The Cork Tree, and capping off with their most recent album M A N I A which earned the band their fourth No. 1 record upon release this past January. This must-have on-wax collection also includes 2013’s combo Save Rock And Roll (PAX•AM Edition) for the first time ever on 12-inch vinyl. The Complete Studio Albums will be made available in two versions — a standard edition on 180-gram black vinyl, and as a limited-edition, 180-gram clear vinyl collection. View the unboxing video here.

- Vermont singer and songwriter Noah Kahan debuts the acoustic version of his latest single, “Come Down”—listen here. Tickets are currently on-sale for Kahan’s first-ever North American and European headlining tour taking place this fall, and several shows have already sold out including Boston, Chicago and Toronto. See the full list of tour dates below. Tickets are available now at NoahKahan.com/tour.

- Following the limited-edition Record Store Day release of Ella Fitzgerald’s unreleased 1956 album Ella At Zardi’s on pink and blue vinyl, which earned Fitzgerald her first No. 1 on the 24-year-old Jazz Albums Chart and her second No. 1 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, the acclaimed live album will receive a wide release as a double LP on black vinyl on August 17 via Verve/UMe. Preorder Ella At Zardi’s on vinyl now

- Critically acclaimed UK singer and songwriter JP Cooper releases “All This Love” [feat. Mali Koa] today via Republic Records. Get it HERE. The music video also brings the story to life in vivid animated form. Drawing inspiration from Tim Burton classics and Disney’s Coco, this Day of the Dead-inspired parable unfolds with epic energy.

- Rising Nashville songwriter Sophie Sanders has unveiled the first single from her forthcoming record, Steep and Shining Spaces. “Still Waters” featuring Amy Grant premiered Wednesday on Billboard. Last fall, Sanders traveled to Amy Grant and husband Vince Gill’s home studio to record the track with the help of Grammy-nominated producer Felix McTeigue. Born and raised in Nashville’s music community, Sanders grew up with a deeply ingrained love for writing, but never took interest in songwriting until after college; she wrote some of her first songs while in the Peace Corps and has been writing ever since. Steep and Shining Spaces is a collection of those songs and an intimate look at her life over the past half decade. “Still Waters” is available today via Spotify and iTunes.

- Two-time Oscar®-winning director Barbara Kopple has partnered with America’s leading true-crime network, Investigation Discovery (ID) to explore the legacy of the notorious 1989 murder of Noreen Boyle in Mansfield, Ohio in the new documentary, A Murder in Mansfield. The film chronicles Noreen’s son Collier’s journey for answers and peace in the aftermath of his mother’s death nearly three decades ago. A Murder in Mansfield will have its national television debut exclusively on Investigation Discovery on November 17, 2018 at 9 :00.

- Showtime has announced the pilot order for the hour-long drama series Queen Fur, created, written and executive produced by Eileen Myers (MASTERS OF SEX) and starring Lily Mae Harrington (Some Freaks). Sian Heder (Orange Is the New Black) will direct the pilot. Deb Spera (Army Wives) will also serve as an executive producer. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. A co-production between Showtime and Sony Pictures Television, Queen Fur is set in a small town in Central Florida – a place where beauty pageants, gun culture, Cuban revolutionaries and Southern hospitality co-exist and collide. And at the center of it all is Macy Dunleavy (Harrington) – a curvy, sexy, unapologetic high school dropout who is finding her womanhood and is ready to seize a big opportunity

Around the Tubes: 7/27/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The First, Shameless, Wrecked, Meg Myers, James Bay, Dagny, Too Stupid To Die, Just Another Immigrant: Romesh at the Greek, Constance, Beast Mode, The Chi, The Affair, and Turner On Demand movies for August.

- Check out the first teaser for upcoming Hulu Original drama series The First. All eight episodes of The First debut on Friday, Sept. 14, only on Hulu.


- TBS comedy Wrecked premieres its third season on Tuesday, August 7 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). This season, the Wrecked gang find themselves shipwrecked on a mysterious billionaire's private island where they’re forced to hunt each other to the death in a basic-cable battle royale. Season three stars Ally Maki, Asif Ali, Brian Sacca, Brooke Dillman, Jessica Lowe, Rhys Darby, Will Greenberg, and Zach Cregger, along with guest stars Rob Corddry, Eugene Cordero, Jonno Roberts, Karan Soni, Rachel House, Robert Baker, and Will Hines. The series is executive-produced by Justin Shipley, Jordan Shipley and Jesse Hara.


- Showtime has unveiled the official trailer and poster for season nine of its No. 1 comedy Shameless, premiering on Sunday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy and SAG Award® winner William H. Macy and Golden Globe® nominee Emmy Rossum, Shameless is one of the network’s longest-running and most successful series ever and attracts the youngest-skewing audience of any Showtime series.


- Meg Myers’ new album 'Take Me To The Disco' is out now on 300 Entertainment and has been met with raves, leading the Associated Press to declare her “a genuine rock goddess,” saying “Myers definitely isn’t fooling around and there’s no denying the woman’s sheer talent, both as a songwriter and as a singer who can go from kittenish to face-melting in the same song.” The new album has also earned Meg a pick on NPR’s New Music Friday podcast, and praise from the New York Times, who dubbed Meg’s sound “seething and then exploding,” and Billboard, who called the new music “cathartic” and “life affirming.”

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer-songwriter James Bay released the official music video for his new single “Just For Tonight.”


- The critically acclaimed Norwegian indie -pop songstress Dagny unveils her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Landslide.” The song was featured in a prominent and emotional scene in tonight’s episode of Freeform’s The Bold Type. Listen to Dagny’s “Landslide” Cover Here! And watch the scene from The Bold Type Here.

- MTV, in conjunction with Gunpowder & Sky, this week announced that its new stunt series Too Stupid To Die will premiere on Tuesday, August 21st with back-to-back episodes beginning at 10:00. The highly anticipated series, developed with Zach Holmes, the online sensation and daredevil who was banned by YouTube, will feature bizarre pranks, hilarious antics and outrageous stunts. In the debut episodes, viewers are introduced to rural Indiana where this amateur stunt crew has nothing better to do with their time than take rat traps to the face, dodge golf carts, set off explosives, practice public archery and open a dangerous kissing booth, just for starters. Too Stupid To Die is the story of a backyard group of friends who are making a name for themselves with nothing but blood, sweat and fearlessness.

- Showtime will premiere the comedy special Just Another Immigrant: Romesh at the Greek, from comedian and star of the network’s series JUST ANOTHER IMMIGRANT, Romesh Ranganathan, on Friday, July 27 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. Ranganathan’s true-life adventures and preparation for his performance at the historic Greek Theatre were recently chronicled in the network’s comedic docuseries. Cameras followed the UK comedian as he moved to Los Angeles and committed to selling out the 6,000-seat theater. Just Another Immigrant: Romesh at the Greek is the grand finale to Ranganathan’s journey in America. To watch and share a clip from the special, go to: https://youtu.be/k0ydB0ntjRg.

- Turner's TNT has ordered the scripted dramas Constance and Beast Mode (working title) to pilot. KC Perry (The Originals) wrote Constance, which stars Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), with Emmy® nominee Jesse Peretz (Glow, Girls) attached to direct. Constance is produced by Team Downey, in association with Sonar Entertainment and Studio T, with Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey (Sherlock Holmes), Amanda Burrell, Bill Dubuque (Ozark), Tom Lesinski (Mr. Mercedes), Jenna Santoianni (Mr. Mercedes), Peretz, Shue and Perry serving as executive producers. Beast Mode is written and executive produced by David Schneiderman and produced by Ann Wolfe and MACRO in association with Studio T, with executive producers Stefanie Huie (Triangle) and MACRO’s Charles D. King (Mudbound), Kim Roth (Inside Man) and Poppy Hanks (Fences).

- Fan favorites Shamon Brown Jr. (Papa), Barton Fitzpatrick (Reg) and Michael Epps (Jake) have been upped from guest stars to series regulars for the highly anticipated second season of The Chi. The hit Showtime drama series is currently in production in Chicago and will return to the network in 2019. The Chi averaged 4.5 million weekly viewers across platforms and ranks as the highest-rated Showtime freshman season since Billions in 2016.

- Showtime has renewed its Golden Globe® Award winning drama series The Affair for a fifth and final season. Season four of the series is currently airing on Sundays at 9:00, with the finale airing on August 19. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “We love the intimacy, the nuance and the emotional honesty of THE AFFAIR’s subjective examination of both infidelity and fidelity,” Levine said. “Sarah Treem has always envisioned this as a five-season series, and we will be fascinated to see where she takes her talented cast and all of us next year in its climactic season.”

- Emmy-winning writer and producer Lena Waithe (THE CHI) has signed a first-look deal with Showtime, expanding her relationship with the network that launched her first series as a creator and executive producer. Waithe will work with SHOWTIME on comedy and drama projects that she both writes and produces through her company Hillman Grad Productions. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks.

- What's steaaming in August on tntdrama.com, the TNT App, tbs.com and the TBS App:
Mad Max: Fury Road: Streaming 8/5 - 9/3
San Andreas: Streaming 7/23 - 8/21
I Am Legend: Streaming 8/5 - 9/3
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: Streaming 7/1 - 8/29
The Intern: Streaming 8/1 - 8/30
How To Be Single: Streaming 8/5 - 9/3
St. Vincent: Streaming 8/11 - 8/31
Central Intelligence: Streaming 8/13 - 9/11

Around the Tubes: 7/20/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on UnREAL, Def Leppard, Greta Van Fleet, >Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dark Money, In Case of Emergency, Sacred Sites, Saved By the Bell, and The Wrong Mans.

- Everlasting has moved its set to Hulu. In a new deal between Hulu and A+E Studios, the fourth and final season of fan favorite drama series, UnREAL, is now available to stream in its entirety on Hulu. The final installment joins Hulu’s award-winning originals slate and brings together the complete UnREAL library, all on Hulu. Starting this week, fans of UnREAL can immediately dive into the new season. The deal also brings the complete series together on Hulu, making it possible to discover, watch and re-watch all of the steamiest moments, most memorable elimination ceremonies and killer cliffhangers from throughout the show’s four seasons.

- Def Leppard unveil their Spotify Singles. As part of the streaming platform’s coveted initiative, the multiplatinum rock legends performed the classic “Hysteria” in addition to a brand new cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” Listen and share the singles HERE.

- Greta Van Fleet released its brand new single, When The Curtain Falls, to fans via socials. You can click HERE to listen to the song.

- Lynyrd Skynyrd: If I Leave Here Tomorrow, the newest addition to the Showtime Documentary Films slate, will premiere on Saturday, August 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME on-air, on demand and over the internet. Directed by Stephen Kijak and featuring rare interviews and never-before-seen archival footage, Lynyrd Skynyrd: If I Leave Here Tomorrow takes viewers on a trip through the history, myth and legend of one of the most iconic American rock bands. Rising from the swamps of the Deep South, these good ol’ boys from Jacksonville, Florida came to define an era with their hard-rocking boogie-woogie sound, soulful lyrics, drunken and dangerous antics and their controversial use of the rebel flag. The film also serves as a portrait of late band leader Ronnie Van Zant whose life was cut tragically short, but whose legacy endures to this day in songs like the “Simple Man,” “Country Boy,” and “Whiskey Rock-a-Roller."


- Your vote can be bought, but at what cost? Dark Money follows local Montana journalist John S. Adams, who is determined to uncover the truth about funding in his state’s elections. The film gains insights over the course of three election cycles, as it solves an increasingly complicated and blurred puzzle. Dark Money traces Adams’ steps and sheds light on the grassroots movement to unveil the mysterious financing behind our elections. Dark Money has its national broadcast and streaming debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, October 1 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 31st season.

- Written, directed, and produced by NYC filmmaker Stefanie Sparks, In Case of Emergency is a new comedy coming to Prime Video and iTunes July 23, preceded by a special screening in New York City at The PIT Loft on July 18. Described by Vox Magazine as “a poignant comedy in the same vein as Bridesmaids,” In Case of Emergency is one woman’s sometimes raunchy, always funny internal battle of style vs. substance. Following an accident, NYC socialite Sarah Williams is forced to reevaluate her life goals. Is she ready to put away her judgements and pearls to descend into the subways of redemption? Or will she continue up the photo shopped elevator towards a lonely, bitter Park Avenue high rise?

- From the supposed tomb of King Arthur to ancient Egyptian temples once controlled by female priests, the world’s religious sites are home to alluring secrets and mysteries. This summer, Smithsonian Channel brings back Sacred Sites to explore even more enigmatic religious sites found around the world. Featuring advanced scientific discoveries and archaeological research, new episodes will bring viewers to sanctified and historical locations stretching from Europe to North Africa, through the Mayan civilization in the Americas, across the path of the Camino de Santiago and more. Sacred Sites returns Monday, August 13 at 8:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Missing your favorite pals from Bayside High? It's alright, 'cause you're Saved By the Bell! On October 2nd, 2018, Shout! Factory invites TV aficionados to a very special class reunion with the 16-disc collector's release of Saved by the Bell: The Complete Collection, a "Max-ed" out, completist's DVD set of the iconic and addictive '90s Saturday morning sitcom. Relive the laughter, lessons and love with Zack and his friends in this 16-disc collector's set, featuring every episode from 'Good Morning, Miss Bliss' to 'The College Years', and it's available today for pre-order, at Amazon.com!

- Showtime has announced the casting of Jillian Bell (22 Jump Street) in a lead role of the half-hour comedy pilot The Wrong Mans, also starring and produced by Ben Schwartz (House of Lies) and written and executive produced by James Corden (The Late Late Show with James Corden), Mathew Baynton (Yonderland) and Ian Maxtone-Graham (The Simpsons). J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), BBC Studios’ Angie Stephenson and Bad Robot’s Ben Stephenson also serve as executive producers. Jim Field Smith (EPISODES) is also executive producing and directing the pilot, which is based on the BBC series created by Corden and Baynton.

Around the Tubes: 7/14/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Castle Rock, Casual, Ariana Grande, Lord Huron, The Avett Brothers, Mobb Deep, POV, Who Is America?, Shark Squad, Now What with Amanda de Cadenet, Conan, and Final Space.


- Hulu are excited to debut the official trailer for upcoming Hulu original series Castle Rock. The psychological-horror anthology series from J.J. Abrams and Stephen King premieres Wednesday, July 25th only on Hulu.


- Hulu released the trailer for the fourth and final season of Casual. All 8 episodes will premiere on Tuesday, July 31st. All episodes of the series will be available to binge on Hulu at that time.


- Today, Grammy Award®-nominated, multiplatinum, record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande releases, God Is A Woman, the second single from her highly anticipated fourth studio album Sweetener via Republic Records. The brand-new single was produced by ILYA for MXM, written by Ariana, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Rickard Göransson, and ILYA. Listen to God Is A Woman HERE. The official lyric video for God Is A Woman has also been revealed, watch it HERE.

- Lord Huron’s Spotify Singles debut today, including a performance of their hit single “When The Night Is Over” as well as a cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” Listen/share the singles HERE. Additionally, the band will preform “Never Ever” on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on August 8 and will appear on “CBS This Morning: Saturday Sessions” on August 11.

- The Avett Brothers announced that they will be ringing in 2019 with two shows at Charlotte, North Carolina’s Bojangles Coliseum on December 30th and December 31st. Tickets will be available to Avett Guild members starting on Tuesday, July 10th at 10am and will then go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 13th at 10am. CID Entertainment will once again be offering special VIP and travel packages. More info can be found at theavettbrothers.com.

- You cannot mention rap’s most timeless duos without naming Mobb Deep. To celebrate the 25thAnniversary of their monumental debut release Juvenile Hell, Urban Legends/UMe released both a standard black vinyl LP and a limited edition red vinyl pressing of this iconic release. This is the first time that Juvenile Hell has been available on vinyl, and both versions can be ordered at shop.urbanlegends.com.

- In celebration of their 40th Anniversary, JOHN LYDON’s PUBLIC IMAGE LTD (PiL) have announced The Public Image Is Rotten: The North American Tour, will kick off in New Orleans on Tuesday, October 9 (see below for all dates). Tickets go on-sale starting Friday, July 13 at 10:00AM local time. Further PUBLIC IMAGE LTD activity includes the release of The Public Image Is Rotten a career–spanning box set (out July 20) and a new documentary film of the same name, the latter of which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and at London’s Raindance Festival. Directed by Tabbert Fiiller and released by Abramorama, the film will make its North American theatrical premiere on Friday, September 14 in New York City at Metrograph with more theatrical dates in October-November to coincide with PiL’s North American fall tour. View the trailer for The Public Image Is Rotten film (here).

- In “one of the most dangerous places on earth," where the Taliban maintains a substantial presence, a young woman faces obstacles to pursuing a seemingly simple passion: sports. Born and raised in Pakistan’s mountainous tribal region of Waziristan, Maria Toorpakai emerged to become the country’s top female squash player and one of the top 50 in the world. Directed by Erin Heidenreich, The War to Be Her premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and makes its national broadcast on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 23 at 10 p.m. POV is American television’s longest-running documentary series now in its 31st season.

- Showtime announced a brand new satirical half-hour series from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Famous for creating a roster of iconic moments and incendiary characters, Baron Cohen returns to series television for the first time in more than a decade, writing and directing Who Is America? In the works over the past year, the seven-episode series will explore the diverse individuals, from the infamous to the unknown across the political and cultural spectrum, who populate our unique nation. The first episode will debut on streaming, online and On Demand this Sunday, July 15 at midnight ET (9 p.m. PT July 14) and will premiere on air that same night at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with subsequent episodes airing on Sundays at 10:00.


- Around the world, a group of scientists are risking life and limb to come face-to-face with the most fearsome sharks in the ocean. From researchers in Guadalupe attempting to attach a camera to a great white, to a dedicated “shark lab” in the Bahamas investigating shark migration and overall intelligence, join a thrilling journey into the hidden habitats of these premier marine predators. Shark Squad is now streaming on Smithsonian Earth™ – available on Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Android™ and at SmithsonianEarthTV.com.

- Showtime has ordered a new pilot Now What with Amanda de Cadenet (working title), for a half-hour weekly news-magazine format created and hosted by Amanda de Cadenet (The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet). The show takes a thematic approach exploring America’s current social, sexual, cultural and political issues, seen through de Cadenet’s sharp, feminist lens. Emmy® nominee Inuka Bacote (Eastsiders), and Danielle Oexmann (Vice Does America) will serve as co-showrunners. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks.

- Team Coco and TBS are bringing Conan O’Brien’s unique brand of comedy to San Diego in a nightly pop-up comedy club. TEAMCOCOHOUSE will be open beginning Wednesday July 18th through Saturday July 21st. Located at 327 Fourth Ave, a few blocks from the convention center, TEAMCOCOHOUSE will showcase a daily lineup of comics handpicked by Conan, podcasts, panels, screenings, giveaways and special appearances by friends of Team Coco, as well as O’Brien himself.

- Oh my double crap! TBS announced this week that San Diego Comic Con will be the next stop on the Final Space intergalactic circuit. Series creator Olan Rogers along with the cast and producers of the recently renewed epic space opera will descend on fans for an action-packed Q&A about the adventures and mystery of Final Space, including a special fan contest announcement. The panel will be followed by an autograph signing at a separate location.

Final Space- Q&A with the Cast and Creators of the TBS Animated Series

Panelists: Olan Rogers, David Sacks, Tika Sumpter, Tom Kenny, Coty Galloway
Date: Friday, July 20, 3:30 – 4:10 p.m. PT
Location: Hilton Bayfront San Diego, Indigo Ballroom

Signing: Friday, July 20, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT
Tickets to the limited autograph signing will be available at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, July 20 at the Sails Pavilion of the Convention center.

Around the Tubes: 7/6/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on I Am the Night, The Challenge: Final Reckoning, Sideswiped, Bob Marley, The Band, Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust, The Score, POV, Claws, Animal Kingdom, and Sportsball.

- TNT has released the official trailer for the new limited series I Am the Night (formerly titled One Day She'll Darken) from executive producer and director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster). The newest installment in a thrilling collection of limited series called the TNT Suspense Collection™, the series stars Chris Pine, who also is an executive producer. The talented roster joining Pine includes India Eisley, Jefferson Mays, Leland Orser, Yul Vazquez, Dylan Smith, Golden Brooks, Justin Cornwell, Jay Paulson and Connie Nielsen.


- Below is the latest super tease for this upcoming season of MTV’s The Challenge: Final Reckoning, set to premiere on Tuesday, July 10th at 9PM ET.


- YouTube Premium premieres the official trailer for its new original dating comedy series, Sideswiped, a multi-generational comedy about relationships - both romantic and familial. Based on a true story from Carly Craig, this eight-episode comedy series about dating in the digital age will debut on YouTube Premium July 25, 2018.​ A lifetime of saying no has left “Olivia” single and miserable on her 35th birthday. This workaholic verging on a breakdown vows to plunge into the hellish world of Tinder by dating all 252 of her matches. She is spurred on by her sister “Jayne” - a young married woman experiencing a seven-year itch. The sisters are joined by their recently widowed mother, “Mary,” who is now also a part of the online dating scene.


- On August 24, The Marley Family, Island Records, and UMe will collectively proclaim the sun is shining in celebration of 40 years of Kaya, Bob Marley & The Wailers’ historic March 1978 release. This most special anniversary edition will feature Stephen “Ragga” Marley’s exciting and vibrant new “Kaya 40” mixes of all ten tracks from the original album alongside its original mixes in 2CD and 180-gram 2LP configurations. (The digital version will be a standalone release of Stephen’s mixes only.) The album will also be available as a limited edition 180-gram 2LP green vinyl version exclusively at BobMarley.com.

- On July 1, 1968, The Band’s landmark debut album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to spring from nowhere and everywhere. Drawing from the American roots music panoply of country, blues, R&B, gospel, soul, rockabilly, the honking tenor sax tradition, hymns, funeral dirges, brass band music, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll, The Band forged a timeless new style that forever changed the course of popular music. Fifty years later, the mythology surrounding Music from Big Pink lives on through the evocative storytelling of its songs including “The Weight,” “This Wheel’s On Fire,” “Tears of Rage,” and “To Kingdom Come,” its enigmatic cover art painted by Bob Dylan, the salmon-colored upstate New York house – ‘Big Pink’ – where The Band wrote the songs, and in myriad descendant legends carried forth since the album’s stunning arrival. On August 31, Capitol/UMe will release Music From Big Pink in newly remixed and expanded 50th Anniversary Edition packages, including a Super Deluxe CD/Blu-ray/2LP/7-inch vinyl box set with a hardbound book; 1CD, digital, 180-gram 2LP black vinyl, and limited edition 180-gram 2LP pink vinyl packages. All the Anniversary Edition configurations feature a new stereo mix for the album, produced by Bob Clearmountain from the original four-track analog masters, achieving a striking clarity and incorporating some previously unreleased chatter from the studio sessions. The 50th Anniversary Edition's CD, digital, and box set configurations also include five outtakes and alternate recordings from the 'Big Pink' sessions and a previously unrelesed a cappella version of "I Shall Be Released."


- The concert documentary, Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust, will make its U.S. television premiere on Showtime on Friday, July 27 at 9:00 on-air, on demand and over the internet. Celebrating Lynne’s enduring and ongoing musical legacy, director Paul Dugdale documents Lynne's ELO performance in England’s famed Wembley Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 fans.


- One of 2018’s hottest breakthrough acts, LA rock band The Score – Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover – release “Glory” last week via Republic Records. Get it HERE. The Score recently supported Echosmith on a successful cross country run. They’ve become synonymous with high-energy and hypnotic live shows powered by a string of smashes, including the red hot single “Unstoppable.”

- In “one of the most dangerous places on earth," where the Taliban maintains a substantial presence, a young woman faces obstacles to pursuing a seemingly simple passion: sports. Born and raised in Pakistan’s mountainous tribal region of Waziristan, Maria Toorpakai emerged to become the country’s top female squash player and one of the top 50 in the world. Yet she has had to hide her talents from the Taliban, which is strongly—and violently—opposed to women in sports. From a young age, she disguised herself as a boy, going by the name Genghis Khan, so she could play, only to eventually be plagued by death threats from the radical group.Directed by Erin Heidenreich, The War to Be Her premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and makes its national broadcast on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 23 at 10 p.m. POV is American television’s longest-running documentary series now in its 31st season.

- TNT has renewed two of its core, powerful dramas – Animal Kingdom and Claws – following their impressive summer premieres. The two-night, two-telecast season three launch of Animal Kingdom combined for 4.3M Total Viewers and 2.0M 18-49 viewers so far, the premiere airing alone generating 978K 18-49 in Live +7. The season two premiere of Claws drew 1.3MM 18-49 in Live +7, +38% higher than last year’s series debut. Season two is now tracking +9% ahead of season one, ranks among the top 5 cable dramas this year, and is currently posting the largest YOY growth among all returning cable dramas.

- Rooster Teeth, the entertainment and media company behind some of the biggest online series in history, today announced the return of Sportsball, a weekly video podcast for sports fans who don’t take themselves too seriously, featuring no-holds-barred interviews, special guests and free-flowing-no-shits-given conversations on the latest sports news. Sportsball relaunches July 16 with new co-host Mia Khalifa who joins Rooster Teeth’s resident sports enthusiast and former ESPN radio host, Tyler Coe.

Around the Tubes: 6/29/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Garbage, Ariana Grande, Neil Diamond, Donna Summer, Hulu, Fear Factor, Halo, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out, Baby Driver, and King of the Desert Lions.

- Garbage last week released the 20th anniversary edition of their legendary second album Version 2.0 via Almo Sounds/UMe. The package features the whole original album, as well as 10 B-sides from the era. The album is available to stream and download starting today HERE.

- Ariana Grande surprises fans ringing in her 25th birthday with “Raindrops,” a track from her upcoming fourth studio album Sweetener. The song was released alongside a video directed by Grammy Award®-winning director Dave Meyers. Watch “Raindrops” video HERE. Preorder Sweetener HERE.

- On August 17, Capitol/UMe will celebrate one of the century's most electrifying live albums, with the release of Neil Diamond's Hot August Night Ill, a live concert DVD/CD Blu-Ray multi-disc set. Hot August Night Ill chronicles Diamond's triumphant return to the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2012.The magical evening was Diamond's 40th anniversary celebration of the original multiplatinum-selling Hot August Night collection that was recorded at the very same venue in 1972. Diamond's noted concert performance and onstage musical prowess is in full evidence on Hot August Night Ill, which features 33 songs including 31 greatest hits. Clocking in at over 2 hours and 20 minutes in length, Hot August Night Ill will be released in multiple audio/video configurations, including 2CD, 2CD + 1DVD, and 2CD + 1Blu-ray, as well as digital and download options. The multidisc set's accompanying video content contains rare behind-the scenes footage with both the band and the crew, showcasing the undeniably palpable energy surrounding Diamond's return to this most historic venue.

- The musical legacy of Donna Summer, the undisputed Queen of Disco and The First Lady of Love, remains hotter than ever as she once again tops the charts with her track ”Hot Stuff (Ralphi Rosario & Erick Ibiza 2018 Rework),” taken from Summer: The Original Hits, hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.

- In a new library agreement with Viacom, Hulu is now the exclusive streaming home to full libraries of fan-favorite series including: Daria, Nathan for You, My Super Sweet 16, and New Edition Story. In addition, the deal brings a suite of 11 series from the Nickelodeon family and over 20 films to Hulu, titles now available to stream include: Big Time Rush, School of Rock, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Hunter Street, Make It Pop, Every Witch Way, and WITS Academy. Also returning to Hulu will be hit series Alvinnnn!!! and the Chipmunks, Kung Fu Panda and Penguins Of Madagascar. The new deal is part of Hulu’s commitment to expanding its library with programming for the whole family. More series and films from Nickelodeon will continue to rollout throughout the year.

- MTV’s Fear Factor returns with celebrity episodes on Tuesday, July 17th at 10PM ET with a two-hour premiere. Hosted by Ludacris, the series will include ten, one-hour celebrity episodes filled with new stunts inspired by urban legends, popular scary movies and viral videos from today’s cultural zeitgeist. The celebrity contestants will confront their fears, be pushed beyond their comfort zones and take action against some of their biggest stressors.

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- Halo, the award-winning and record-shattering series of video games, is bringing its universe to SHOWTIME. The network has ordered a 10-episode season of the live-action, scripted drama HALO (working title), based on the hallowed Xbox® franchise, with Kyle Killen (Awake) serving as executive producer, writer and showrunner. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will direct multiple episodes and also executive produce the hour-long series. Produced by SHOWTIME in association with Microsoft/343 Industries, along with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, HALO will begin production in early 2019. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.

- MTV’s Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out returns for SEASON 11 on Thursday, July 12 with two back-to-back episodes beginning at 11PM ET/PT, followed by new episodes Thursday and Friday nights at 11PM ET/PT. This season’s star-studded roster includes Rick Ross, TIP & Hustle Gang, Vic Mensa, KeKe Palmer, Winnie Harlow, Matt Barnes, Trick Daddy, Amara La Negra, Rich The Kid, Tyga, Justine Skye, Cordell Broadus, and many more.

- Showtime will offer the world television premiere of the Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominated film Baby Driver on Saturday, July 14 at 10:00. Showtime subscribers will also be able to watch the film across all platforms including SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and the SHOWTIME stand-alone streaming service.

- After spending nearly six years filming a remarkable pride of endangered desert lions, Smithsonian Channel is now bringing viewers the compelling narrative of their lives in Namibia’s extreme, searing terrain. This story, about one of the world’s most magnificent coalitions of five male lions, has not only touched the hearts of millions all over the world, it has even changed national law. King of the Desert Lions premieres on Wednesday, July 11 at 8:00.

Around the Tubes: 6/22/2018

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on U2, Eric B and Rakim, Florence + the Machine,Cold War Kids, Noah Kahan, The Supremes, Leonard Bernstein, Public Image Ltd., Welshly Arms, Hulu, and Desus Nice and The Kid Mero.

- UMC/Island/Interscope announced three new vinyl reissues from U2. Remastered and pressed on 180gsm double LP black vinyl, Achtung Baby (1991), Zooropa (1993) and The Best of 1980-1990 (1998) will be released on July 27th. Achtung Baby (1991), Zooropa (1993) and The Best of 1980-1990 (1998) are available to pre order now here.

- Ever since they burst upon the scene in the late 1980s, Eric B & Rakim have been universally recognized as one of hip-hop's greatest creative units. Eric's distinctive soundscapes and Rakim's complex raps remain unequaled, and the duo's classic recordings remain a benchmark of the genre. Although the pair's albums have remained immensely influential, all have been out of print for some time, making the UMe release The Complete Collection 1987-1992 an especially timely package. Not only a mighty monument to Eric B & Rakim's larger-than-life catalog, this ten-disc vinyl/CD set is the first U.S. career expanding box set for a hip hop artist. The Complete Collection 1987-1992 incorporates two-LP vinyl editions of each of Eric B & Rakim's four original albums—1987's Paid In Full, 1988's Follow the Leader, 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and 1992's Don't Sweat the Technique— plus two bonus CDs of vintage remixes, none of which have ever appeared on an album, and only a handful of which have previously been available digitally. All four LPs are housed in a ridged slipcase that also houses a 36-page book and the two bonus CDs. The bonus CDs include no less than 26 vintage remixes, including such influential classics as Coldcut's "Seven Minutes of Madness" mix of "Paid In Full," the "Six Minutes of Soul" reworking of "I Know You Got Soul," Marley Marl and M.C. Shan's mix of "My Melody," and "Friends," Eric B & Rakim's Top Ten 1989 collaboration with Jody Watley.

- Florence + the Machine unveil a new song, “Big God,” and video today—watch it, choreographed by Akram Khan and Florence and directed by Autumn de Wilde, HERE. “Big God” is the third track to be released from Florence + the Machine’s hugely anticipated fourth studio album High As Hope, out June 29 on Republic Records.


- Cold War Kids: Can We Hang On?: Late Night with Seth Myers:


- As he quietly becomes an international sensation with nearly 110 million cumulative streams to his name, Vermont singer and songwriter Noah Kahan returns with his new single, “Come Down,” today—listen here.

- On June 29, in anticipation of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Motown — a.k.a. Hitsville U.S.A. — and inspired by the album’s own recent 51st anniversary, Motown/UMe is releasing a 51-track, 2-CD Expanded Edition of The Supremes’ tenth studio effort, the chart-topping The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland. The collection magnifies the scope of a seminal album that made history, including 27 tracks that are heard here for the first time via a number of updated mixes and alternate versions, as well as electrifying live performances captured at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City in May 1967, the last recorded performance of the original trio: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard.

- In a dazzling musical career that spanned more than forty years, Leonard Bernstein distinguished himself as a conductor, pianist and educator, as well as a passionate musical communicator. But it was his work as a composer that made the most enduring impression upon the public. Bernstein's timeless compositions have become deeply ingrained in the American soundtrack, encompassing the Broadway stage, the pop scene and the jazz world. Now, just in time for the 100th anniversary of his birth on August 25, some of his greatest works have been assembled for Jazz Loves Bernstein, available June 29 via Verve/UMe. The two-CD/digital collection spans the musical and emotional breadth of the Bernstein songbook, with interpretations of the maestro's classic tunes spanning more than half a century, performed by some of the era's finest jazz singers and musicians.
Starting today, Bobby’s Scott rare 1959 recording of “Ya Got Me” is available for streaming and for immediate download with digital album pre-order. Pre-order Jazz Loves Bernstein now.

- n celebration of Public Image Ltd.’s (PiL) 40th Anniversary, Abramorama and Verisimilitude have released the first official trailer and poster of the new music documentary The Public Image Is Rotten. The career-spanning documentary, tells the story of music icon John Lydon and his pioneering group PiL with a level of depth and intimacy never before seen. Following a sold-out screening at Camden London’s Odeon Cinema, the film will be released in multiple theaters across the United Kingdom and select European cities throughout the summer, followed by a North American theatrical tour in the fall kicking off at New York City’s downtown Metrograph on September 14. Watch the trailer for the film The Public Image Is Rotten HERE.

- Cleveland-based, blues and gospel-influenced Alternative band Welshly Arms debuts the video for their single, “Sanctuary,” today—watch and share here. The video exclusively premieres on Billboard, who hails the song as an “earnest, dramatically arranged track.”​ It was directed by Los Angeles-based director Dan Henry and shot in the desert near Acton, CA.

- Hulu announced a deal to acquire whistleblower doc Crime + Punishment as a Hulu documentary. After debuting at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, CRIME + PUNISHMENT went on to win the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking, and has garnered numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Independent Film Festival in Boston. Stephen Maing directed, produced and filmed, and Academy Award Winner Laura Poitras serves as an executive producer. The premium streaming service will partner with IFC Films to release the documentary simultaneously in theaters and on Hulu on August 24th.

- Showtime has ordered a weekly half-hour late-night series starring Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, scheduled for premiere in 2019. The first ever weekly late-night talk show on Showtime will feature popular TV and podcast personalities Desus and Mero, speaking highly off the cuff and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc.